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VeloPress book details Tour’s 100th milestone

BOULDER, CO, (BRAIN) — Tour de France 100 by journalist Richard Moore tells the history of the world’s greatest sports spectacle with photos of heroes and the battles among several iconic racers through the years.

The Tour de France, first staged in 1903, was interrupted twice by war and has cast its spotlight on some of the greatest athletes of all time, who fought their way across France in pursuit of victory and the yellow jersey worn by the Tour's overall leader.

The book contains 250 reproduced photos, from pioneers like Octave Lapize and Eugène Christophe—first to wear the yellow jersey—to legendary warriors like Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain. The battles between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, and Greg LeMond versus Bernard Hinault are included, as is the shocking death of Tom Simpson and the controversial disgrace of Lance Armstrong. The drama of the modern era, represented by super-sprinter Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins, is also included.

Sports journalist and former racer Moore authored several books including In Search of Robert Millar; Heroes, Villains and Velodromes; and Slaying the Badger.

The 224-page book, published by VeloPress, becomes available in bookstores, bike shops and online in June and July for $34.95.